Alter Geller Professor for Research in Immunology in the School of Medicine

Overview:
The focus of our laboratory is the identification, structural characterization, and functional analysis of cell surface molecules and signaling pathways that regulate B lymphocyte development and function. Cell surface molecules allow B cells to communicate with the extracellular environment by serving as transmembrane regulators, receptors for soluble factors, or by mediating cell–cell interactions. Our studies of B-cell–associated cell surface receptors, including CD19, CD20, CD21, CD22 and CD83, are aimed at determining how these molecules function, what their ligands are, how they generate transmembrane signals and regulate human and mouse B cell development, survival and activation. These studies lay the foundation for investigating mechanisms of immune dysregulation and the pathogenesis of immune disorders, such as autoimmunity, neoplastic transformation, and immunodeficiency syndromes in humans. We have expertise in cellular immunology, biochemistry, and molecular biology and are applying a wide range of techniques in understanding the regulatory pathways that govern normal and abnormal B cell function in mice and humans. Current studies are focused on identifying the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which B cells regulate T cell function and autoimmunity, with a particular emphasis on the regulatory B cell subset (B10 cells) that controls immune and inflammatory responses through their production IL-10, a potent negative regulatory cytokine. Current studies also focus on identifying the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which CD19, CD20 and CD22 mAb immunotherapies are effective for treating B cell malignancies and autoimmunity, with translational studies pursuing the development of molecular and cellular therapies for human disease.

We currently have open positions for Research Scientist appointments, students, and postdoctoral fellows.

Recent Courses

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